Psycho III (1986) - Suicidal Nun, Diabolical Duke, & Nervy Norman

Psycho III has taken it's share of beating from critics and fans of the first two films, but I firmly stand up for the fact that there are some great things that derive from this sequel even if it doesn't work as a whole. I think the macabre humor is the stand-out plus for the film with two or three sequences very inspired. And, I was one of those who liked the possible love angle for Norman.

Norman(Anthony Perkins, still very good)has been living quite a quiet existence until numerous things begin to take shape that will only result in tragedy. It starts with the whole fact that Mrs. Spool's disappearance is a constant reminder in the film. Her ghost looms over Norman as certain characters may possibly uncover what he did to Spool in the last film. The three most important characters in this second sequel change Norman's life, all for the worse in many ways.

First, he hires Duane Duke(Jeff Fahey, perhaps overdoes he role), one of those pretty boy-white trash types with his "all-smiles" charm that wins over many a lady unless you're the type that sees through all that for what he really is. We see, though, a nasty streak permeate in certain situations that recognize that Duke is anything but the nicest guy in the world. He gives Diana Scarwid's Maureen Coyle a ride when she wishes to escape from a horrible occurrence and we later see the monster inside Duke as he tries to molest her when he pulls over because of a severe down-pour. When she slaps him for not stopping, he says adiós leaving her to stand in the rain. Later, he takes on a temporary job for Norman who needs an assistant to help around the Bates Motel(In an inspired moment, Duke tells Norman, "I just won't be staying around too long." Norman, with that stuffed owl and it's wings spread behind him overhead, answers, "No one ever does.")He picks up a dame at a local bar, and after she puts out, throws her out of his room with nothing but a shower of insults down-grading her.

Second, a reporter working on a piece about psychopathic behavior and if they should be released from prison, named Tracy Venable(Roberta Maxwell)will not go away. She actually hires Duke to spy on Norman since he could probably notice strange behavior or other unorthodox types of behavior which might yield guilty suspicions of dangerous activity. She begins snooping around Mrs. Spool's life and is always trying to probe into Norman's life one way or another. If anyone will sniff out what Norman might do wrong, she will.

The third character in the film is Maureen Coyle who looks like Marian Crane(the scene in which Norman spots "MC" on her suitcase, and his horrified reaction, are golden moments of jet black humor)and is so shaken in how her life has turned out she tries to commit suicide while staying at the Bates Motel. Duke, not knowing that Room # 1 is a "no-no" to hand out to just anyone, gives that room to Maureen only adding to the macabre joke that Norman's psychological baggage is carrying yet another heavy bit of luggage. When "Mother" decides to put an end to Maureen "she" finds that the young, tortured woman has already slit her wrists. In the most fascinating sequence in the film, Maureen is looking up at "Mother", but she sees through her crazed mind, The Virgin Mary. After surviving the suicide attempt, thanks to Norman who just happened to stop by in order to drop off clean towels, they start a warm, friendly relationship which doesn't go over well with "Mother." This is a film that is unlike the other two films because it is effected by the slasher genre(this is an example many users have already pointed out, but I just wanted to reiterate it). The violence that occurs to several people is much more potent and bloody. Perkins, as director, has a heavy religious sub-text within the story that shows how disillusioned poor Maureen is, and after accidentally killing a nun in a bell-tower, is searching for her own private island. She freely admits to a priest/psychiatrist that lust was mainly why she couldn't fully become a nun and that might just end in bad results for her because of the location she winds up at. The Bates Motel seems to be a place that attracts people trying to get away from something. I think the mystery of who is killing is more than obvious. Sure, Perkins shrouds the person in drag with shadow, but the figure is more than recognizable if you look hard enough. Not to mention, there only a few possible suspects since very few characters frequent within the story. I can't tell if Fahey is just badly acting or if this character is trying to put out the charm loudly placing outwardly this facade of "Mr. Nice Guy" until his more sinister side comes out..specifically towards women. He might identify with Norman more than we think, and Perkins often photographs him as a disturbing type of fellow who might have homicidal tendencies. I feel he's a scumbag just out to make a buck, and always looking to bag a dame..he's your heel that you just know will eventually clash with Norman. But, as I pointed out earlier on, I think the love angle was an important step, even if it was merely inevitable that something(mainly, "Mother")would cease it from forming into something amazing for Norman to shift his existence into the norm.

--October 21, 2006, IMDb